This is one of those great threads that compels me to drop what ever it is that pretends to be important, and just go ride. I still haven't completely figured out the whole slow down and enjoy the journey thing, but I'm trying...

This is one of those great threads that compels me to drop what ever it is that pretends to be important, and just go ride. I still haven't completely figured out the whole slow down and enjoy the journey thing, but I'm trying...

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Perfect. Sometimes when I re-read it I want to do the same

As for the slow down thing, it's not for everyone, you'll know if/when it's right Last weekend was the first time in forever I blasted Ebbitts like that and had to force myself to stop for one photo, and remember there's nothing wrong with riding the same Pass twice in one day like I did Saturday on Sonora, once at speed and then return for a relaxed view of the same road. Lets face it, the best part of the road is from Dardanelle over and down to "the hairpin" overview of the desert, it's o.k. to do it multiple times.

I've already explained why summer is my "Off season" for riding (Hey, I live in CA) so I had some time to do some long overdue maintenance on the Strom and give the ol girl a little attention. Out for a quick test ride on new chain and sprockets, this is probably the shortest Ride Report I've ever done. Also why I always carry my compact camera even when I'm not out looking for photos, ten minutes from my house on a Delta Levee I've been on hundreds of times,but it looked different this day and I couldn't resist stopping for a photo, even in the blazing heat.

Now for my second shortest Ride Report, that same evening I'd been planning on experimenting with some night photography at a spot just outside Livermore. I've seen a sunset there more than a few times and thought watching a moonset cast shadows would be spectacular to. With the Strom in top condition perfect reason for a night ride to cool off. Arrived about 9pm and spent the next 4 hours enjoying the moment, quiet, and what a show. It's these little escapes that are sometimes as big as the dramatic rides.

Here's a few of the results.

I couldn't resist, if you know only ONE constellation......

If this looks normal to you it's time for bed

Literally NO traffic on the road I took advantage of a couple of teenage lovebirds driving up to my spot after midnight to get a cool photo.

This night photography was really just practice. If you've read this thread you saw my Burney Falls photos from last year when I went up there to visit friends, and believe it or not they invited me back again! I was on a mission to get a photo of the falls I've never seen before, a night shot. This trip was quick and I didn't record it like last year, but I spent far more time at the park hiking around.

If you've been there and never hiked above the falls you really should. The most uncanny thing I've seen, just as the water is coming straight out of the porous rock at the falls, the river itself comes out of the ground shortley upstream. In fact less than a mile up (even you lazy riders can handle that!) the stream is not there, just a pile of rocks. I've never seen so much water spring in such a short distance.
This is the dried riverbed where I met a photographer doing the same thing I was.

This little mudhole was so full of life that we spent an hour or so there finding so many creatures giving us a show. This is what I love about photography and why it's becoming such a big part of my riding experience, this sort of thing is missed by most.

Finally evening sets, and after a big meal from my gracious hosts I left the campfire and set out alone to get the shot a came here for.

You won't find this on a postcard in the store....but you will at ADVrider

The strange things you see after dark.....Bat?? Moth?? Tinkerbell??

Seems my summer so far has been about after hours photography, so this last weekend I decided to try my hand at capturing some falling stars, so where else should I go? You guessed it, Sonora Pass and the eastern Sierras. I mean even if I don't get what I came for, it's not like it sucks being there.

I'm not ALWAYS taking photos (notice the months of gaps in this thread), but still you know it was a good day of riding when my camera doesn't even come out of the bag until an hour before sunset. After a great dinner at the Mountain View BBQ in Walker I start my ride back up the pass. Can't pass up a shot like this

The last minutes of light are always magical in color.

When it's this dark, the Milky Way is magical, with some of the colors coming through. A little longer exposure and light is stunning.

After midnight, 9000ft, temps dropping into the 30s and I'm on a motorcycle looking for photo oppurtunities. Life is just Awesome.

With lots of patience, which really isn't a problem when I'm enjoying the moment, I saw my shooting stars across the Milky Way. It's almost silly the rush this stuff gives me.

O.K. this one is an airplane ....but it makes such a cool photo!!

What a great ride back down the mountain in the wee hours of the morning. The road is all mine, and I got to use my Gerbings for the first time in months!
The following morning a little high desrt seemed in order. Anytime I can ride into Nevada in August while there is still a chill in the air, I'm going to take it.

This fun road followed the wash next to it for a few miles, and at some points the wash became the road....or the road became a wash and I started to regret switching back to full street tires in spots. Some of the faster sections where it turned to sand washes had me doing the coin flip, you know do I slow down and increase the chances of tucking the front end , but it will be a slower fall? Or stay on the gas and hope for the best? Needless to say my front tire was doing some sideways plows at highway speeds more than a few times.

More stunning mountains.

This last photo is what adventure riding is all about to me. Not racing Dakar, or sleeping in a hut on a world tour, but just an awesome touring bike that eats miles and twisties and makes me want to follow small roads like this "just to see". Life on my terms, go where I want and enjoy as much of it as I can.

Nice thread. I just moved back to CA, close to Tracy (Ripon). I have been re-discovering the Sierra's on my new Triumph Explorer.
I have taken a few photos but yours do a much better job of capturing what the Sierras have to offer.

I spend the last 24 years moving all around the US and knew I would be back here someday. I finally worked out a relocation with my employer a few months back and moved from PA back home to CA.

Great pictures as always, Dave (not to mean "as always" implies "not special"). I didn't realize you still have your VStrom as well as your ST. Any particular reason you choose one to ride over the other?

Dave, you and I see things very much the same way- would be great to ride together. We're just around the corner from each other as well.

I was thinking of heading up to Leavitt Lake this weekend. Wanna come and teach me some tricks? Ordering an intervalometer as I type this...

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I'll be looking for trouble in other places this weekend, otherwise I might take you up on that. I've done some photography at Leavitt Lake, but still haven't got the "one". One of my favorite perspectives so far...and you can't even SEE the lake

Intervalometer?? Seems you are planning to get really creative, we expect to see some results

Great pictures as always, Dave (not to mean "as always" implies "not special"). I didn't realize you still have your VStrom as well as your ST. Any particular reason you choose one to ride over the other?

-dman ... WeeStrom owner, always intrigued by the SuperTenere

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I get asked that a lot, usually followed by the statement that they both cover a lot of the same ground. And my answer is YES they do cover a lot of the same territory....and that happens to be a place I really like!!

My garage isn't as diverse these days. No need for sportbikes as I'm done with the track. The jury is still out on hardcore single track, but right now I don't need a "real" dirtbike. Seems these adventure bikes really fit what I do, as you can see in this thread. So having two bikes that I'd throw a leg over and ride 1000 miles on a whim is at the very least a good backup (who knows, you could crack your oil pan near Tahoe and wait weeks for parts )

Truth is as much as I think the Tenere is better for me, there are still things I like about the Strom better. The Yamaha is a bit more dirty, where the strom feels a little more like a canyon chaser, but they are both just left and right of center. Not to mention if I don't ride one for awhile, just being on something different is fun just because it's different. Kind of like that new bike thing.

That and for the money I could sell her for I'd rather keep it. At least until I find a sport/adventure tour bike that gets me really excited. Waiting to see what the '14 strom brings us, and I still have to test an Explorer. Even looked sideways at the KTM touring motard or whatever they call it. As soon as something makes me need it, the strom will be gone.

Looking back at my years of riding, I've spent so much time thinking the next bike will make everything perfect. At the moment I've got a garage of bikes that I really like and am content with. I'm often thankful for being this lucky.